DL E&C Wins Pumped Storage Power Plant Project for the First Time in 13 Years... Completion by 2030

500MW Scale Power Generation at Completion

DL E&C announced on the 21st that it has won the contract for the Yeongdong Pumped Storage Power Plant construction project commissioned by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power. The last domestic pumped storage power plant was the Yecheon Pumped Storage Power Plant built in 2011, making this a new pumped storage power project after 13 years.

Aerial view of Yeongdong Pumped Storage Power Plant / Photo by DL E&C

The Yeongdong Pumped Storage Power Plant will be constructed in the Sangchon-myeon and Yanggang-myeon areas of Yeongdong-gun, Chungbuk Province. Upon completion in the second half of 2030, it will generate 500 MW of electricity, enough to supply approximately 110,000 households annually. DL E&C will carry out civil engineering works including the upper and lower dams, underground power plant, and waterway tunnels, with a contract value of 503.4 billion KRW.

Pumped storage power generation involves using cheap electricity during nighttime or electricity generated from renewable sources to pump water from the lower dam to the upper dam for storage. When electricity demand increases, the stored water is released from the upper dam to the lower dam to generate power. This method offers high stability with a lifespan of 40 to 60 years and has a large energy storage capacity. Pumped storage power plants, which combine characteristics of both water and electricity, require higher durability and stability than other facilities. In particular, the Yeongdong Pumped Storage Power Plant involves a highly challenging construction of a 430-meter-long vertical tunnel connecting the upper and lower dams, equivalent to the height of a 143-story apartment building.

DL E&C explained that it has been recognized for its expertise by holding the largest number of hydropower and dam construction records among domestic construction companies. Currently, it is carrying out a multipurpose dam project worth 139 million USD (approximately 190 billion KRW) in Indonesia, and has successfully completed large-scale projects such as the Karun Dam in Iran and the Gulpur Hydropower Plant in Pakistan. Its prior experience constructing the Yecheon Pumped Storage Power Plant was also instrumental. A DL E&C official said, "This contract win was largely due to the 'one team' formed by on-site workers and the bidding team before the bid. We transferred vivid construction know-how to lead the bidding competition to success."

DL E&C plans to apply the 'RBM (Raise Boring Machine)' method, which involves drilling a hole about 0.3 meters in diameter into the rock, inserting a vertical tunnel boring machine equipped with cutters (blades), and rotating it to bore through the rock. This method shortens the construction period and ensures safety. Additionally, to drill a small guiding hole straight, vertical drilling technology must be guaranteed. DL E&C implemented this with an 'automatic vertical maintenance device' that keeps the equipment vertical while drilling. This measure prevents the hole from deviating to one side. DL E&C also applied this method to the Yecheon Pumped Storage Power Plant to improve work precision.

A DL E&C official stated, "Winning a project from Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, which rigorously verifies technology, quality, and safety, itself validates DL E&C’s technological capabilities and competitiveness. With this contract, we will accelerate the pumped storage power generation business, which is considered a future growth engine."